Shrub rose plant named ‘Sprolych’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive semi-double ivory cream blossoms that possess a substantially non-fading blotch of deep burgundy at the center of the petals. The vegetation is vigorous and strong and the growth habit is compact and bushy. Attractive ornamental semi-glossy dark green foliage is formed. The plant is particularly well suited for growing in a Western landscape. Distinctive ornamentation is provided.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Sprolych.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of landscape shrub rose plant of the present inventionwas created by artificial pollination carried out at Bakersfield,Calif., U.S.A., wherein two parents were crossed which previously hadbeen studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. Each parent was not patented and possessed a complexparentage as indicated hereafter. More specifically, the parentage canbe summarized as follows:{[(‘Orangeade’×‘Auscot’)×Wekfabpur’]×(‘Geisha’×‘Scrivluv’)}×mixedHulthemia pollen. The ‘Auscot’ variety is marketed under the ABRAHAMDARBY trademark and is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,215. The‘Wekfabpur’ variety is marketed under the MIDNIGHT BLUE trademark and isthe subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,623. The ‘Scrivluv’ variety ismarketed under the BABY LOVE trademark and is non-patented in the UnitedStates. The ‘Orangeade’ and ‘Geisha’ varieties are non-patented in theUnited States.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of landscape shrub rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        semi-double ivory cream blossoms that possess a substantially        non-fading blotch of deep burgundy at the center of the petals,    -   (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous and strong vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive ornamental dark green foliage with a        semi-glossy finish on the upper surface, and    -   (e) is well suited for providing distinctive ornamentation.

A new rose variety is provided having attractive multi-colored blossoms,combined with substantially continuous blooming. The plant reblooms welland displays an attractive compact growth habit.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industryparticularly when grown in a Western landscape. It can be grown toadvantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas,and residential landscapes. The ivory cream and burgundy blossomcoloration contrasts nicely with the dark green foliage.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from the ‘Sprolem’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,580), as well as plants in its ancestry. Morespecifically, the ‘Sprolem’ variety displays dissimilar bright yellowblossoms and a considerably larger growth habit. The ‘Orangeade’ varietydisplays blossoms that are clear orange in coloration. The ‘Auscot’variety forms very large very double yellow blossoms with dark pink atthe base. The ‘Wekfabpur’ variety forms purple blossoms with a lighterunder surface. The ‘Geisha’ variety displays mauve blossoms. The‘Scrivluv’ variety displays single deep yellow blossoms. It further isrecognized that Hulthemia roses generally bloom only once a year andgenerally display an unattractive growth habit.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found to be homogeneousand stable and are strictly transmissible by asexual propagation by theuse of stem cuttings from one generation to another at Wasco, Calif.,U.S.A. Accordingly, the new variety can be asexually reproduced in atrue-to-type manner. After approximately 10 days root formation isreadily apparent on stem cuttings.

The new variety has been named ‘Sprolych’, and will be marketed underthe EYECONIC and LYCHEE LEMONADE trademarks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated plants wereapproximately one year of age and was growing outdoors in the field ontheir own roots at Davis, Calif., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates a close view of a typical blossom and foliage of thenew variety. The attractive ivory cream and burgundy coloration of atypical semi-double blossom is shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a row of flowering plants of the new variety whereinthe compact and bushy growth habit is shown.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart-1995 Edition). Thedescription is based on the observation of two-year-old specimens of thenew variety during September while growing outdoors on their own rootsat West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 45 cm on average when mature.        -   Width.—Approximately 45 cm on average when mature.        -   Habit.—Compact and bushy.        -   Roots.—Fibrous network, and near Greyed-Orange Group 164D in            coloration.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—Commonly display 2 or 3 main branches on average.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 55 to 63 cm on average.        -   Diameter.—Commonly approximately 1 to 3 cm on average.        -   Color.—Young stems: near Green Group 143A. Adult wood: near            Green Group 137B overlaid with Grey-Brown Group 199A.        -   Texture.—Young stems: generally smooth with thorns. Adult            wood: somewhat rough.        -   Thorns.—Size on young stems: approximately 5 cm in length on            average, and on mature wood approximately 7 cm in length on            average. Texture: generally smooth. Quantity: commonly            observed to be present in a moderate quantity. Color on            young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144A. Color on mature            wood: near Grey-Brown Group 199A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Odd — pinnate.        -   Size.—A five-leaflet leaf commonly is approximately 6.7 cm            in length on average, and approximately 6 cm in width on            average.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Broadly cuneate.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7. Shape: broadly ovate with a            serrate margin. Texture (upper surface): smooth and            semi-glossy. Texture (under surface): smooth. Size: terminal            leaflets commonly are approximately 4.6 cm in length on            average and approximately 3.3 cm in width on average, and            lower leaflets commonly are approximately 2 cm in length on            average and approximately 1.6 cm in width on average. Color            (young foliage): on the upper surface near Green Group 143C            and on the under surface near Yellow-Green Group 144A. Color            (fully mature foliage): on the upper surface near Green            Group 139A, and on the under surface near Green Group 137A.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color.—Near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the upper            surface and near Yellow-Green Group 145A on the under            surface.        -   Stipules.—Commonly rough on the upper surface and smooth on            the under surface.        -   Petioles.—Length: commonly approximately 1 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1 mm on average. Color:            near Yellow-Green Group 146C. Texture: commonly rough on the            upper surface and smooth on the lower surface. Strength:            relatively strong.        -   Rachis.—Length: commonly approximately 1.5 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1 mm on average. Color:            near Yellow-Green Group 146C. Texture: commonly rough on the            upper surface and smooth on the lower surface. Strength:            relatively strong.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Singly or in cluster of two or three            blossoms per stem, and commonly approximately 24 flowers on            plant at a given time.        -   Peduncle.—Relatively strong, covered with small flexible            thorns less than 1 mm in length, near Yellow-Green Group            144A in coloration, approximately 4.5 cm in length on            average, and approximately 2 mm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—Number: five. Length: commonly approximately 2.3 cm            on average. Width: commonly approximately 8 mm on average at            the widest point. Upper surface: somewhat rough and covered            with short hairs. Under surface: smooth.        -   Buds.—Shape: ovoid. Length: approximately 1.5 cm on average.            Diameter: commonly approximately 1.1 cm on average. Texture:            smooth. Color: near Yellow Group 11A when opening.        -   Flower.—Form: semi-double, cuplike. Diameter: approximately            6 cm on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:            near Yellow-Orange Group 19C overlaid with near Red-Purple            Group 63D transitioning at the center to near Red-Purple            Group 61B, and finally to Yellow Group 11A at the point of            attachment. Under surface: near Yellow Group 11C with near            Yellow Group 12B at the point of attachment. Color (when            fully open): Upper surface: near Yellow Group 11D            transitioning at the center to near Red-Purple Group 67B,            subsequently to near Red-Purple Group 65D, and finally to            near Yellow Group 4D at the point of attachment. Under            surface: near Yellow Group 11A throughout. Fragrance:            slight. Petal shape: obcordate. Petal length: commonly            approximately 3.1 cm on average. Petal width: commonly            approximately 3.3 cm on average. Petal margin: entire. Petal            apex: broadly obcordate. Petal base: broadly cuneate. Petal            number: approximately 15 on average. Petal drop: good, with            the petals commonly dropping cleanly and freely. Stamen            number: approximately 90 on average. Anthers: near            Yellow-Orange Group 14A in coloration. Filaments: near            Yellow-Orange Group 18C, and approximately 1 cm in length on            average. Pollen: commonly formed in a sparse amount, and            near Yellow Group 11A in coloration. Pistils: separate and            free, and commonly approximately 35 in number on average.            Stigmas: near Yellow-Orange Group 19C in coloration, and            approximately 1 mm in diameter. Petaloid number: commonly            approximately 3 or 4 on average. Petaloid size: commonly            approximately 1.7 cm in length on average, and approximately            1 cm in width on average. Petaloid color: commonly near            Yellow Group 4D at the point of attachment, then            transitioning to near Red-Purple Group 65D, then to near            Red-Purple Group 67B, and finally to near Yellow Group 11D            at the apex. Receptacle: smooth, generally circular in            shape, achenes stand on the bottom and wall, approximately 6            mm in diameter on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 144A            in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Commonly near Green Group 139C on the upper surface            and near Yellow-Green Group 144A on the lower surface.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Diplocarpon rosae (Blackspot),            Podosphaera pannosa (Powdery Mildew), and Phragmidium            tuberculatum (Rust) typical for the type (Hulthemia).        -   Propensity to form hips/seeds.—None observed during            observations to date.        -   Hardiness.—To at least U.S.D.A Hardiness Zone No. 6.

Plants of the new ‘Sprolych’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant characterizedby the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive semi-double ivory creamblossoms that possess a substantially non-fading blotch of deep burgundyat the center of the petals, (b) exhibits a compact and bushy growthhabit, (c) forms vigorous and strong vegetation, (d) forms attractiveornamental dark green foliage with a semi-glossy finish on the uppersurface, and (e) is well suited for providing distinctive ornamentation;substantially as herein shown and described.